High School Roundup: Breakers add two more titles in girls’ water polo
The titles keep piling up for the Laguna Beach girls’ water polo team. The coffer became a little richer in the past week when two more championships were won by the No. 1-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division 1.
Laguna won for the 47th consecutive time and win No. 47, which came by virtue of a 22-1 triumph over visiting Godinez Wednesday, wrapped up another perfect run to another Orange Coast League crown.
Laguna has won all nine OCL championships since the league’s inception, and hasn’t lost a single league game in that time.
Every Breaker scored with senior Makenzie Fischer leading that category with three goals. Fischer also had a team-high three assists and tied with Holly Parker for a team-high in steals, with four each.
Mia Salvini (three steals), Taylor Julson, Aria Fischer and Brighid Burnes each scored twice.
Laguna went 4-0 in league and stayed perfect on the season (26-0).
Wednesday’s championship turn came four days after the Breakers claimed another big title, that of the Irvine Southern California Championships. They won the tournament for the second straight year by defeating second-ranked Foothill for the fourth time this season, 11-4, in Saturday’s final at the William Woollett Aquatics Center.
Makenzie Fischer led all scorers with six goals. Salvini and Aria Fischer scored twice, Haley Evans scored once, and Parker registered 10 saves.
Saturday’s title game win capped a 5-0 tournament run for the Breakers, who previously disposed of Esperanza (22-2), Murietta Valley (21-2), Royal (20-6), and San Marcos (16-5).
Makenzie Fischer was named the tournament’s Outstanding Field Player for the second consecutive year. Aria Fischer and Bella Baldridge were named to the all-tournament team.
“The girls played their best polo of the season over the weekend,” Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said. “I think we showed everyone in the water polo world that we are still hungry and still improving every day.
“It’s hard to put into words how proud I am of what this year’s team has done and the legacy this group of seniors is leaving behind. This is such a special group of girls I just can’t say enough about what they have accomplished together and the way they have done it. Truly a once in a lifetime team. I’m having a lot of fun with them and couldn’t be more excited for the playoffs.”
The Laguna junior varsity team also competed at the Irvine Southern California Championships. The JV Breakers finished tourney play 2-3, with wins coming against the top-ranked team in Division 3, Arroyo Grande, and the No. 12 team in Division 1, Villa Park.
The varsity Breakers have now won what is considered to be the “Triple Crown” of girls’ prep water polo tournaments — Newport Harbor/Corona del Mar Holiday Cup, Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and the Irvine Southern California Championships, in consecutive years.
That’s six major tourney titles in less than a year. Next week, they begin their quest to win a second consecutive CIF Division 1 championship.
“I think it speaks volumes about the character and consistency of this team,” Damato said of the two-year tourneys run. “These girls are the most mentally tough group I have every coached. We come to play every time we touch the water. I’m just so proud and so fortunate to be a part of this great team.”
Laguna faced one final regular season test when it played its final regular season game on Thursday at El Toro, the top-ranked team in Division 2. The score wasn’t available at press time.
The Breakers are all but assured the No. 1-seed for the CIF Division 1 playoffs which start next week. The playoff pairings will be released Sunday.
Laguna will play a first-round game Wednesday.
“We will be No. 1 and know that we will have a tough road in front of us,” Damato said. “We talked about the rankings as a group, and I think everyone is pumped.”
Girls’ Soccer
The Breakers ended their Orange Coast League campaign and regular season Wednesday. Their final match before heading into the CIF playoffs ended in a scoreless tie with visiting Calvary Chapel at Guyer Field.
Laguna ended league play with a 7-2-1 record, good for third place. Calvary Chapel and Estancia both finished 7-1-2 and tied for the league title.
The Breakers, ranked ninth in Division 5, take an overall record of 9-6-5 into postseason play which starts next week.
“Great game for us,” is how Laguna Coach Bill Rolfing termed Wednesday’s performance by the Breakers. “Dominated, but could not score.
“I’m proud of the four four-year veterans, Janie Crawford, Kylie George, Amy Hewlett and Audrey Pillsbury. Their play and leadership brought two OCL championships and four consecutive trips to the CIF playoffs.”
The Breakers had clinched a CIF playoff berth with a 1-0 shutout victory Feb. 3 over Estancia.
Prior to its scoreless tie with Calvary Chapel, Laguna had scored a 2-1 league victory at Godinez Monday. Renee Thomas scored off an assist from Alyssa Pellow in the 35th minute, and Pillsbury scored off an assist from Hannah Budroe in the 60th minute to break a tie score. George had four saves.
Rolfing said the Breakers played well against a “strong Godinez team.”
“The 2-1 victory was crucial for our title run and each player performed with that in mind,” Rolfing said. “Chiara Noppenberger shined on defense while Alyssa Pellow held the midfield together. The winning goal by Audrey Pillsbury put Godinez on their heels.”
In another league clash, Rolfing said Laguna survived a “very difficult match” at Saddleback on Feb. 5 to come away with a 1-0 victory.
The Breakers, who couldn’t convert on 14 corner kicks, finally found the net in the 70th minute when Maddy Kristensen followed a long shot by Shea Skenderian shot to get a rebound off the Saddleback goalie. Kristensen calmly placed the ball into the net for the winning score.
Boys’ Soccer
The Breakers ended their Orange Coast and regular seasons on Thursday against Calvary Chapel. The score wasn’t available at press time.
In league play Tuesday, Laguna was shut out by host Godinez, 2-0. The loss left the Breakers, who still held second place in league heading into Thursday’s match against Calvary Chapel, at 4-2-3 in league and 8-7-4 overall.
The Grizzlies won the OCL title for the third consecutive year and fourth time in five years.
“Godinez is an excellent team and thoroughly deserves the league title,” Laguna Coach Dan Richards said. “They have a lot of talent and play some great soccer. It is always a pleasure to play them and we wish them good luck in the playoffs.”
In a league game Feb. 6 at Saddleback, the Breakers and Roadrunners played to a scoreless tie.
“This was a great point away from home to keep us in second place,” Richards said. “Saddleback was extremely physical and tried to outmuscle our young squad. I was very happy with how the boys kept themselves in the game and managed a very difficult situation with regards to the style of play the opponent adopted.
“Getting a seventh shutout in league play was also a huge positive.”
The CIF boys’ soccer playoff pairings will be released Monday. Wild-card round games are Wednesday, and first-round games are Feb. 20.
Surfing
Laguna Beach athletes went up against teams from JSerra, Santa Margarita, El Toro and St. Margaret’s, and earned top placements at the fourth event of the Scholastic Surf Series Orange County High School League at the San Clemente Pier.
In a head-to-head team competition against El Toro, Laguna dominated the event and took a 72-15 win. Freshman Spencer Davis continued his winning ways by capturing the boys’ bodyboard final.
In the girls’ longboard final, Anika Pitz and Calla Henderson placed second and third, respectively. Pitz also placed second in the girls’ shortboard final. Three Breakers reached the boys’ longboard final where Tobie Grierson took second followed in third place by Wesley Eagleton, and Willy Hogan was sixth.
In the final event, boys’ shortboard, five Breakers reached the six-person final. In a close event, Grierson took first followed closely by Jake Levine who was second. Noah North was third, Zach Levine fourth, and Hogan was sixth.
The next Scholastic Surf Series event is Feb. 28 at Goldenwest Street in Huntington Beach.
CIF Weekly Rankings
Girls’ Water Polo: Laguna Beach (No. 1, Division 1).
Girls’ Soccer: Laguna Beach (No. 9, Division 5).
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca